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Three set to leave Wildcats

RYAN Aldridge admits that three players are likely to leave Swindon Wildcats this summer after Ryan Watt joined forces with Bracknell Bees.

The Link Centre head coach confirmed to the Advertiser that he did not offer the 23-year-old forward a deal for the new season.

The Scot returned to Wildcats this autumn after being released by Slough Jets and following his exit from Swindon he has rejoined Bracknell.

And Aldridge said after Watt’s departure that more will follow.

“There will, I think, be a couple more who won’t be returning,” the head coach told the Advertiser. “I would probably say at least two, possibly three, will leave.”

Watt was grateful that Wildcats re-signed him in October for a third time and was part of the squad that helped the club reach the play-off finals weekend in April.

The departing forward said: “I felt we had a great time in Swindon and to lose out in the final four as we did [following refereeing decisions], was a sore one to take.

“It’s a shame I wasn’t invited back to the club, but that’s hockey.

“There were offers made from other clubs and the one from Bracknell was right for them and for me, but I wish the players and all the fans the best for the new campaign and I’ll see them on the ice after the summer.”

While Aldridge was satisfied with how Watt performed during his short spell back at the club, he felt that there were others in the squad that he would prefer to keep.

“It’s getting to the point of the year where we are getting players lined up for next year,” Aldridge said. “We spoke a couple of weeks ago and Bracknell Bees had offered him something very interesting.

“Ryan did the job we wanted him to do when he came here, but I think if you speak to him he will say that he didn’t have his best year.”

With Watt gone, Cats are expected to unveil a new face next Saturday when they host their street hockey day at the Link Centre.

The new player will be the eighth to commit his future to Cats for next term joining forces with Jan Kostal, Alex Symonds, Stevie Lyle, Aaron Nell, Henri Sandvik, Ollie Betteridge and Stevie Whitfield for the 2014/15 season.

Aldridge also confirmed that the club are still in talks with last season’s captain Shane Moore.

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